The Many Versions of Superman in the Comics & Other Media & Other Thoughts about the Depiction of the Man of Steel & His Supporting Cast through the Years




Superman (1996-2000, animated)
Superman of Smallville
Superman of Superman Returns
Post-Infinite Crisis Superman
Less direct versions of Superman

Superman (1996-2000, animated)



Ten years after the comic book revamp, just four years after his death in the comics, and in the same year he was married in the comics and on Lois & Clark, Superman reappeared in an animated show patterned after Warner Brothers’ successful Batman: The Animated Series, which was itself an imitation, not of the Super Friends of the 70s and 80s, but of the Superman cartoons produced by Fleischer and Famous Studios in the 1940s.

Superman himself was much like the Byrne Superman—lower power level, no Superboy career, the Kents surviving to his adulthood, forceful and larger-than-life Clark, etc.

However, many elements of this series showcased and paid homage to various features of the Superman mythos throughout his 60-year tenure. Most significantly, Krypton was markedly different from both the Byrne version and the motion picture version, echoing instead the Silver and Bronze Age Krypton when Jor-El and others were heroic men of action, and Krypton was vibrant and colorful. Also, Lois made the transition back to black hair. Although Luthor and Darkseid, the two most important villains of this series, were essentially the same as depicted in the Byrne revamp, some classic villains received different treatment. Bizarro returned to his Silver Age roots. The series introduced two new villains, Livewire and Mercy, Lex’s martial artist chauffeur, both of whom later joined comic continuity.

Wings’ star Tim Daly provided the voice of Superman, with George Newbern assuming the voice of the Last Son of Krypton for the Justice League animated series. Dana Delaney of China Beach and Tombstone played Lois Lane. Mike Farrell portrayed Jonathan Kent, and Michael Ironside gave voice to the villainous tones of Darkseid.

The most significant villain restructuring on this show was the Man of Steel’s second-greatest arch-enemy—Brainiac. This version of Brainiac, taking a cue from the post-Crisis villain, Eradicator, was a Kryptonian computer used by Jor-El, which later created a blue-skinned android body with electrodes on its head for itself. This version of Brainiac was selected by Wizard magazine as one of the 100 greatest villains of all time.

My Favorite Episodes of Superman (1996-2000, animated) by Season (three per season)

Season Superman (1996-2000, animated) episode
First “The Last Son of Krypton” (1x01)
First “The Way of All Flesh” (1x05)
First “The Main Man” (1x07 & 1x08)
Second “Blasts from the Past” (2x01 & 2x02)
Second “Mxyzpixilated” (2x08)
Second “World’s Finest” (2x16)
Third “Knight Time” (3x02)
Third “Little Big Head Man” (3x05)
Fourth “Legacy” (4x02 & 4x03)


Notes on favorite episodes

First Season Favorite Episodes

“The Last Son of Krypton” (1x01)



“The Way of All Flesh” (1x05)



“The Main Man” (1x07 & 1x08)



Second Season Favorite Episodes

“Blasts from the Past” (2x01 & 2x02)



“Mxyzpixilated” (2x08)



“World’s Finest” (2x16)



Third Season Favorite Episodes

“Knight Time” (3x02)



“Little Big Head Man” (3x05)



Fourth Season Favorite Episodes

“Legacy” (4x02 & 4x03)




Sidebar on the Versions of Brainiac

Other versions of Brainiac throughout the years have included a late-Bronze Age revision that was more mechanical and frightening in appearance, the aforementioned, convoluted but decidedly non-robotic Byrne version, and the Smallville version, which is a hybrid of the animated series Brainiac and the liquid metal Terminator-1000. Nevertheless, the original electrode-bedecked, Silver Age android with green skin, a red flying saucer, a tight pink shirt, and tight pink skivvies who used a force field and shrank cities remains definitive.


Superman of Smallville

Take Dawson’s Creek, add a generous portion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season with a dash of Roswell, throw Kal-El, alias Clark Kent, into the mix, and you have Smallville, the longest-running series based on Superman (or any super-hero or any other comic book character, for that matter) in the history of television.

The overriding principle on which Smallville is based is summed up as “no flights, no tights,” and the show’s creators have adhered to this principle. Almost. For the first three seasons anyway. In the third season, Clark, in his uninhibited Kal-El persona, demonstrates the power of flight, and scenes of him flying have been in the opening credits at the beginning of every episode since. Every other Kryptonian to appear on the series and a few other mutants and aliens have displayed the ability to fly. Now, I can understand why you may want to do a series about Superman with a “no flights” principle, but not if you routinely show other people doing it. By the time of the seventh season, the idea that every Kryptonian but Clark can fly is so pervasive that the other characters actually joke about it. In other words, by the seventh season the whole idea is silly.

As far as the “no tights” proviso, also by the time of season seven, several other super-heroes have appeared in their costumes.

Smallville began with another fascinating premise, one that has fueled storylines and provided conflict for years—namely, that the central event of the Superman mythos, Kal-El’s arrival on Earth, is also the source of pain for others and many of Clark’s own troubles in several different ways and on many levels. First, Kal-El’s spacecraft drags a slew of meteors with it, which bombard Smallville relentlessly, killing the parents of Lana Lang, along with many other residents of Smallville. Second, many of the meteors are, in fact, radioactive fragments of the destroyed planet Krypton itself. These “meteor rocks,” as they are called for several seasons before acquiring their proper name “kryptonite,” have mutagenic effects on humans. After long-term (or possibly only prenatal or childhood) exposure to the strange radiation, many of the denizens of Smallville become insane mutants with a diverse array of powers, otherwise known as “meteor freaks.” Once a mutant is revealed as unstable, antisocial, homicidal, or some combination thereof, Clark sets out to stop him or her. Third, the meteor shower is the beginning of Lex Luthor’s gradual descent into depravity. Fourth, to pave the way for Kal-El’s arrival and ensuing destiny, Jor-El creates a network of caves beneath Smallville decorated with strange glyphs and imbued with supernatural properties.

In the comics, particularly in the Silver and Bronze Ages, Superman sometimes mused that without super-heroes, there would be no super-villains. Smallville turns this occasional musing into virtual monomania.

In Smallville, the Luthor-Superman relationship comes full-circle. From the Silver Age premise that they were friends as teenagers to the post-Crisis notion that they did not meet until adulthood to the Smallville tenet that they were friends as teenagers again but became enemies through a long, complex process.

One of Smallville’s great contributions has been to showcase other DC Universe super-heroes, often for the first time in live-action media. Smallville has presented its versions of Impulse, Aquaman, Cyborg, Green Arrow, the Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, Black Canary, & Legion of Super-Heroes founding members, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, & Cosmic Boy.
Smallville is blessed with an exceptional cast. Tom Welling (b. 1977) stars in Smallville’s lead role of young Clark Kent. In 1995, Welling graduated from Okemos High School in Michigan! Kristin Kreuk (b. 1982) literally portrays the girl next door, Lana Lang, who is Clark’s love interest for at least seven seasons. John Schneider (b. 1960), best known as Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, plays Clark’s adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, for the first 100 episodes. Since season four, Erica Durance (b. 1978) has portrayed Lois Lane. Played by Aaron Ashmore ever since the sixth season, Smallville’s Jimmy Olsen has the distinction of physically resembling the comic book Olsen more than any actor who has yet filled the role. Laura Vandervoort (b. 1984) portrays Clark’s Kryptonian cousin Kara in 21 episodes of the seventh & eighth seasons.

Smallville has demonstrated an abiding love and respect for the history of Superman across the media and the decades in its selection of its cast and guest stars. Michael Rosenbaum (b. 1972), who portrays Lex Luthor, voiced the Flash/Wally West on the animated series Justice League. Annette O’Toole (b. 1952), in the role of Martha Kent, also played the adult Lana Lang for the first time in live-action in the lamentable, 1983 film Superman III. John Glover who portrays Lionel Luthor, Lex’s inscrutable father, also voiced the Riddler on Batman: The Animated Series & was the unscrupulous scientist who creates Poison Ivy in the 1997 film Batman & Robin.

Terence Stamp, the voice of Jor-El, played fellow Kryptonian, General Zod, in Superman and Superman II. In two episodes (second season’s “Rosetta” & third season’s “Legacy”), Christopher Reeve himself portrays Virgil Swann (purportedly named after legendary Superman comic illustrator, Curt Swan), the mysterious professor who knows Clark’s secret. Margot Kidder, Lois Lane of the movie series, plays Dr Swann’s assistant Dr Bridgette Crosby. Helen Slater, Supergirl of the eponymous 1984 Salkind film, portrays Kal-El’s mother Lara in two episodes. Michael Ironside, the voice of Darkseid in the Superman animated series, plays General Sam Lane—Lois’ father. Dean Cain, Superman of Lois & Clark, portrays the enigmatic, immortal villain, Dr Curtis Knox, who shares the initials “CK” with the show’s protagonist and his former character and who may be an homage to the Green Lantern/Flash antagonist Vandal Savage.

Smallville has introduced several interesting and memorable characters to the legend, not the least of whom is the compulsively snoopy Chloe Sullivan, Clark’s longtime friend and confidant with a deep and not-so-secret affection for the Last Son of Krypton. Chloe is ably played by actress Allison Mack (b. 1982).

Smallville is rife with direct & indirect references to the Superman mythos. In a nod to Lois & Clark, Smallville’s Jimmy Olsen calls Clark “CK.” In an ironic allusion to both Lois & Clark & Superman: The Animated Series, Lois’ nickname for Clark is “Smallville.” Furthermore, in several episodes, different characters identify Lois as having or having had two of the foibles of the Margot Kidder version of Lois from 1978’s Superman: The Movie and its sequels—namely, smoking & bad spelling. Additional allusions include the following: Clark always wears blue & red, Smallville has a gorge named Shuster’s Gorge (after Joe Shuster), & the first-season mayor of Smallville is Mayor Siegel (after Jerry Siegel).

My Favorite Episodes of Smallville by Season (one per season)

Season Smallville episode
First “Tempest” (1x21)
Second “Rosetta” (2x17)
Third “Legacy” (3x17)
Fourth “Run” (4x05)
Fifth “Aqua” (5x04)
Sixth “Justice” (6x11)
Seventh “Cure” (7x04)
Eighth “Legion” (8x11)
Ninth “Absolute Justice” (9x11)


Notes on favorite episodes

First Season Favorite Episode

“Tempest” (1x21)



Second Season Favorite Episode

“Rosetta” (2x17)



Third Season Favorite Episode

“Legacy” (3x17)



Fourth Season Favorite Episode

“Run” (4x05)



Fifth Season Favorite Episode

“Aqua” (5x04)



Sixth Season Favorite Episode

“Justice” (6x11)



Seventh Season Favorite Episode

“Cure” (7x04)



Eighth Season Favorite Episode

“Legion” (8x11)



Ninth Season Favorite Episode

“Absolute Justice” (9x11)



Fifth season




Superman of Superman Returns




Sidebar Superman’s cape

In the definitive, modern depiction, the Man of Steel’s cape has an “S”-shield, like that on his chest, but the one on his cape is completely yellow.

Superman in the animated series of the 1990s, Justice League, & Superman Returns has no such “S”-shield on his cape.

Furthermore, in The Adventures of Superman, the “S”-shield on his cape has the same color scheme as the one on his chest (which does not work well; it blends in with the red of the cape itself).

The Christopher Reeve era films & Lois & Clark feature the correct all-yellow “S”-shield on the Caped Kryptonian’s cape.


Sidebar on the issue of Superman as metaphor for the United States of America



Clad in the colors of the nation’s flag, the most powerful man in the world, & fighting for truth, justice, & the American Way, Superman is a symbol for the nation itself.



During World War II, Superman emerged as the leader of the super-hero community & actively fought the enemies of the United States—the Axis Powers—in the comics, on the radio, & on the silver screen.

It is no accident that the United States, following its decisive victory in the Second World War, became known as “leader of the Free World” & a global “superpower.”



In addition, Superman is often portrayed with an eagle on his arm, the national colors in the background. The Man of Steel is frequently shown consulting with the President of the United States & sometimes taking orders from him, as if the Man of Tomorrow were a general or Cabinet Secretary.

Therefore, in short, Superman fights America’s battles, has America’s attributes as the strongest & the leader, & follows America’s ideals, particularly the American Way. He is in essence a living, breathing flag made flesh.


Sidebar on the issue of Superman as Jesus



Some of the details of Superman’s life and character parallel those of Jesus Christ. These similarities were not emphasized in the comics, and it is unlikely that Siegel and Shuster intended them when they created the character. Siegel and Shuster were both sons of Jewish immigrants, and Superman is certainly an immigrant. Furthermore, ironically, Superman exemplifies the Jewish concept of Messiah in ways that Christ never did. The Messiah the Hebrews yearned for, particularly at the height of their persecution by the Romans, was a worldly king, a successor to David, a military leader who would free the Jews, overthrow the Romans, and secure for the Hebrews a worldly kingdom—a new Israel. Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospels, was none of these things. He promised delivery and salvation but not by physically defeating the Romans and creating a Jewish empire on Earth. The Biblical Christ promised spiritual redemption and salvation, resurrection, and a heavenly kingdom in the afterlife. Although the Man of Steel does not usually accept the roles of either king or general, he does physically confront and combat the forces of evil the way the Jewish Messiah would.

The only tangible similarities between the two offered by the comics are the fact that both come from the heavens, both were intentionally sent by their fathers, both have superhuman abilities, and both have a role as savior. However, all of these points are superficial resemblances when the details are compared. Superman comes from another planet located in outer space; he does not literally come from Heaven. Superman’s father, Jor-El, sent him to Earth in a rocket to save his life, as Krypton was doomed to explode. Jesus, contrariwise, was sent to Earth by means of a metaphysical conception, and the consequent pregnancy and birth from the womb of the Virgin Mary, and Christ’s Father, God Almighty, sent Him as a sacrifice to expiate the sins of humanity. Whereas, Kal-El came to Earth to live, Christ came to die. Superman cannot turn water into wine, multiply loaves or fishes, heal the blind and sick, control the weather, or raise the dead. On the other hand, while Christ may well have had such powers, the Gospels and Paul’s letters do not speak of the Son of Man ever flying (walking on water, yes—flying, no), being invulnerable, or having super-strength, heat vision, x-ray vision, super-breath, or super-hearing. Finally, Superman saves people in this life. Once someone dies, he is beyond the help of the Metropolis Marvel. Jesus’ role is as a savior of souls, not physical bodies.

The 1978 Superman film, Superman Returns, and the pilot of Smallville all emphasize certain similarities between the Last Son of Krypton and the Son of God (or, in the case of Smallville, create such similarities).

In Superman, the Christ parallel is most apparent in the words of Jor-El at the Fortress. “As the son becomes the father, the father becomes the son.” “For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son.”

Some see these additional similarities. The trial and banishment of Zod, Ursa, and Non at the start of the film is reminiscent of Satan’s expulsion from Heaven. Kal-El, Superman’s Kryptonian name, contains the Hebrew word “El,” which means “god.” Many names of Hebrew origin end with an “el,” such as “Michael” and “Gabriel.” This is probably a coincidence. Martha Kent’s admission that she has asked “the good Lord to” send her a child and the fact that Superman & Jesus were both 30 years old when they commenced their careers, could be construed as Christ parallels.

In Superman II, General Zod is shown walking on water. Later, Zod plays on the similarity between his own name and “God.”

In the pilot for Smallville, the football team makes Clark their scarecrow, hanging him in a cornfield with an “S” painted on his chest. Hanging in the cornfield with a delirious look on his face, Clark looks Christlike.

In Superman Returns, there is a scene in which Superman flies into orbit, floats in space looking at the Earth, palms open, and listens to the voices of many people. The image is overwhelmingly that of a deity listening to the prayers of mortals.

So Superman is godlike. That much is obvious. Similarities between the Caped Kryptonian and any god or any fictional or real person exist. However, for every comparison, there are more differences. For instance, did Jesus have a white dog or a blonde cousin with the same powers?

Claiming that Superman is a copy of Christ, or, worse, charging that he is blasphemous, sacrilegious, or heretical because of his patterning is ridiculous.

This is tantamount to saying Batman is a copy of Mickey Mouse, because they both have big ears.


Post-Infinite Crisis Superman




Less direct versions of Superman

Batman



Just as Siegel and Shuster claimed the inspiration for Superman was the Scarlet Pimpernel, so did Batman’s creator, Bob Kane, give the credit for his creation to El Zorro. Ironically, although Zorro is clearly more like Batman than Superman is like the Scarlet Pimpernel, Zorro was himself based on the Pimpernel. So Batman and Superman alike can be said to be the intellectual descendants of Emma Orczy’s famous English nobleman (“that demmed elusive Pimpernel”). Nevertheless, Batman was introduced in May, 1939—11 months after the debut of the Caped Kryptonian and for the simple reason that Superman was selling a lot of comic books. In many ways Superman’s opposite, Batman is, however, a costumed crimefighter with a secret identity and therefore one of the earliest copies of the Man of Steel.


Captain Marvel



Holy moley! The Big, Red Cheese is a Superman clone. Captain Marvel wears red, has an icon on his chest, sports a cape, is super-strong and invulnerable, and has an alternate identity as a news reporter. Captain Marvel comics actually outsold Superman comics for a few years. In fact, some claim that DC borrowed a few tricks from Captain Marvel’s bag, making Luthor bald just as Dr Sivana was and granting Superman the power of flight. However, alternate explanations exist for both of these parallels. A year after Marvel’s introduction, National Periodicals (DC) launched a copyright infringement suit that waged in the courts for 11 years. Fawcett Comics (the publisher of Whiz Comics and other Captain Marvel comics) claimed that Marvel was quite different from Superman—not only was the tone of the comics themselves lighter, more fantastic and whimsical, but Captain Marvel’s powers stemmed from magic, not science, and Marvel’s alter ego was a boy. By the time DC won its copyright suit in 1952, Captain Marvel’s sales had declined (as had those of all super-heroes); so Fawcett agreed to stop publication of Cap’s adventures and paid a hefty settlement of $400,000. In 1972, DC paid to license the rights to Captain Marvel, and so he began appearing in DC comics, most often alongside his oldest, greatest rival, the Caped Kryptonian himself. Shazam! the television series followed in 1974, and a cartoon featuring the whole Marvel family aired on Saturday mornings from 1981-1982. Ironically, because Marvel Comics had a magazine entitled Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel’s titles at DC did not bear the character’s own name, but rather something with “Shazam” in the title. In 1980, DC purchased the rights to Captain Marvel outright, and Captain Marvel has been a DC comics character ever since.

Captain America



Some draw parallels between Captain America and Batman. They are both non-powered heroes who use martial arts and weapons to wage war on crime. These parallels exist but are only skin-deep. At the core of the heroes’ images, however, they are opposites. Batman is an angry, tortured soul who fights crime in the shadows skirting around the law and establishment. Meanwhile, Captain America is a sunny personality in a brightly colored costume on the side of order, a symbol of the United States itself. Cap’s costume is, like Superman’s, predominantly blue and red—just like Old Glory herself. While you might picture Captain America fighting crime in some dark alley, he is not nearly as suited to it as is the Dark Knight. Captain America, a symbol of truth & justice, often portrayed as the leader of the Avengers, is in fact a version of Superman.

Wonder Woman



Great Hera! Also clad in America’s colors, the Amazing Amazon is, admitted William Moulton Marston of his 1941 creation, a female version of the Man of Steel. Similar powers, same color scheme, but imbued with a woman’s sense of compassion and nurturing in her never-ending battle for truth and justice alongside her macho counterparts.

Supergirl



In 1959, a still-more-literal female Superman than Wonder Woman flew into comics in the form of Kara Zor-El—Superman’s Kryptonian cousin. Younger, blonder, cuter, and more easy-going than her older cousin, Kara’s costume and powers were exact matches for those of the Man of Steel.

The Mighty Thor



Odin’s beard! The fourth of fledgling Marvel Comics’ new, major super-heroes, Thor burst into four-color comics in August, 1962, almost exactly 24 years after the debut of the Man of Tomorrow. A flying, super-strong, red-caped hero. Whom does that remind you of?

Hyperion



First appearing in Avengers #69 (October, 1969), a member of the Squadron Sinister—Marvel Comics’ version of an evil JLA—Hyperion is a Superman analogue. Hyperion has super-strength, flight, freezing breath, atomic vision, and a vulnerability to argonite radiation. Many alternate versions of Hyperion, both villainous and heroic, have appeared over the years. At least one version was the sole survivor of his home planet, which exploded. Also, at least one Hyperion has an arch-enemy who is a scientist and whose facial hair Hyperion accidentally caused to grow perpetually.


Vartox



Superman himself frequently refers to Vartox as a “slightly older, more experienced version of” himself. Superman’s equal in intellect, strength, flight, and invulnerability, Vartox possesses many so-called “hyper-powers” (as distinguished from Superman’s “super-powers”), which the Man of Steel lacks. Hailing from the now-destroyed world of Valeron in the Sombrero Hat Galaxy, Vartox enjoys the same status of eminence and reverence that the Caped Kryptonian enjoys in our own galaxy. Although Vartox has never been shown to have a weakness such as kryptonite or red sun radiation, Vartox’ loss of his wife and home world and his inability to save them have contributed to Vartox’ mental instability, which has more than once brought him to cross-purposes with the Last Son of Krypton.

Gladiator



Kallark (Kal-El + Clark), the praetor of the Imperial Guard of the Shi’ar Empire, who has fought the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Thor, Wonder Man, and even Hyperion, first appeared in X-Men #107 (October, 1977). One of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe, Gladiator flies through space unaided, appears invulnerable to everything but certain types of radiation, and possesses freezing breath and heat vision. And what color is Gladiator’s cape? What else but red.

The FF cover on the left was pencilled by John Byrne—the writer/artist probably most responsible for popularizing the character of Gladiator. The entry on Gladiator in the Handbook of the Marvel Universe on the right was pencilled by none other than Superman artist extraordinaire Curt Swan. This is most likely a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that Byrne was, at the time of this publication, writing & pencilling the Man of Steel’s books for DC Comics.


Mister Majestic



First appeared in 1994 in WildCATS #12 published by Image (WildStorm) Comics. Majestic looks exactly like Superman, can fly, is immensely strong and possessed of ice breath and laser vision. His personality, however, is quite unlike the Man of Steel’s. Majestic is belligerent, imperious, and operates by his own standards rather than the ethics of society.


Mighty Mouse

Coming here “to save the day,” the super-rodent first appeared in 1942 in “The Mouse of Tomorrow.” Mighty Mouse, wearing a red cape and possessing super-strength, the ability to fly, and x-ray vision, is a hybrid of two of America’s most enduring pop culture icons—Mickey Mouse and Superman. Mighty Mouse appeared in theatrical shorts throughout the 1940s and 1950s vanquishing an assortment of cat villains, until 1955, when CBS purchased Terrytoons along with its most famous creation and began showing the cartoons on television for the next 30 years.


Underdog



“There’s no need to fear—Underdog is here.” Bursting onto the small screen in 1964, Underdog wears a red suit with a blue cape. He can fly, is very strong and nearly invulnerable, and possesses x-ray vision and atomic breath. Underdog was the first in a line of inept super-hero parodies. He is clumsy and causes much collateral damage while fighting the likes of Riff Raff and Simon Bar Sinister, usually winning in the end by the sheerest of luck or by another’s intervention.


The Greatest American Hero



Given a red costume with a blue cape by the “little green guys,” schoolteacher, Ralph Hinkley, is something of a cross between Superman and Green Lantern. He has most of Superman’s abilities, but the power is in the suit, and only when worn by Hinkley himself. Not wanting the powers granted him by the inscrutable aliens, embarrassed to wear the suit in public, and imperfectly able to use the suit’s powers, Ralph is another inept super-hero parody. In three seasons on television, Ralph never quite masters the power of flight, but hurtles through the sky, arms flapping frantically and screaming at the top of his lungs. Ralph never would have got off the ground in the first place, if, in the pilot episode, a young boy had not shown him how Superman achieves liftoff by taking three steps and then leaping into the air. Ralph would be completely aimless without the assistance of Bill Maxwell, his FBI agent partner. Warner Brothers did, in fact, file suit against ABC for infringement on their Superman copyright, but the suit was dismissed.


The Tick



Spoon! The Tick is the first in a series of flightless Superman parodies. Spouting ridiculous metaphors and aphorisms straight from the pages 1950s comic books, the Tick is immensely strong and “nigh invulnerable,” but he cannot fly. It is only with the aid of his sidekick Arthur—who can fly but has no other powers and is not strong enough to carry the Tick—that the blue bug of justice is able to defeat his opponents. Ironically, the City has an enormous super-hero population, who are, with the notable exception of American Maid (in the Saturday morning animated version), even more inept than the Tick.


Mr Incredible



The family of heroes introduced in the Disney/Pixar film The Incredibles is clearly based on the Marvel super-group the Fantastic Four. Elastigirl has the same powers that Mr Fantastic has, while Violet has the same powers as the Invisible Woman. Dash is the odd man out, the only member of The Incredibles who does not share an ability with a member of the Fantastic Four. Even Jack-Jack with his array of awesome powers resembles Franklin Richards. Mr Incredible himself has a name that sounds like Mr Fantastic, while his powers are similar to those of the Thing. However, Mr Incredible, as the most formidable super-hero & acknowledged leader of the community, is also a version of Superman ... even without a cape.


The Commander



Another Disney super-hero parody, Sky High, presents us with Kurt Russell as the Commander—super-strong, invulnerable, and unanimously acknowledged greatest of the super-hero community. The Commander’s wife, Jetstream, possesses the power of flight, which the Commander lacks. The Commander’s bespectacled alter ego is a real estate agent. The son of this flightless Superman inherits his father’s strength and his mother’s ability to fly and so will undoubtedly become a greater hero than either parent—a true Superman.

Superman in other films & TV shows

Superman in I Love Lucy— “Lucy & Superman” (6x13)

Superman in Saturday Night Live—“”

Superman in Friends —“The One with the Holiday Armadillo” (7x10)



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